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In Lijiang, you can choose spirulina, yak, Lijiang scented wine, and snow tea as gifts for your elders. You can also choose Dongba tie-dye, camel bells, and some special accessories with ethnic characteristics as gifts for your friends or besties.
Lijiang's Chenghai Lake is one of the world's three largest lakes for growing spirulina, and the platensis variety it grows is the finest. Spirulina boasts both health and medicinal benefits. On the streets of Lijiang, you'll see numerous foods made with spirulina, such as noodles and biscuits. "Green A" is the ultimate spirulina product. Chenghai Natural Spirulina in the ancient city is one of the largest spirulina specialty stores in the area, and it's also available at Yongcheng Spirulina and Green A Natural Spirulina.
Dongba tie-dyeing draws on the tie-dyeing and batik techniques of the Bai and Miao ethnic groups, incorporating elements of Dongba culture. The pictographic nature of Dongba script and folk craftsmanship combine to create a unique aesthetic and decorative quality. Lijiang Old Town is home to numerous shops specializing in homespun cloth, some of which also custom-make it into custom tops, skirts, hats, and more.
It's said that when Queen Elizabeth II visited China, she ordered Lijiang's xiaoxing wine at a state banquet. Xiaoxing wine is a low-alcohol rice wine, with a unique brewing process dating back to the Ming Dynasty. You can usually buy Xiaoxing wine at specialty tobacco and alcohol shops in Lijiang Old Town.
A hollow, grass-bud-like lichen-like plant of the tea family, it grows in mountains over 4,000 meters above sea level and is named for its snow-white color. Snow tea can be brewed alone with boiling water or with tea leaves, chrysanthemums, licorice, and other ingredients. In the remote mountainous areas of Lijiang, snow tea is also called "Gele," meaning "alpine love tea," and is drunk by couples during courtship. Many tea shops within the ancient city offer a variety of Yunnan teas.
There are many kinds of camel bells in the shop, they are very beautiful and the prices are very reasonable.
Address: No. 64, Guanmenkou, Qiyi Street, Dayan Ancient Town
The Bunun Bell is a pendant shaped like a caravan bell. The Bunun Bell shop, located at the Dashiqiao head of Sifang Street, is not only the only one in Lijiang Ancient Town, but also has no branches in the whole country; there are only four such shops in the world. In addition to Lijiang, there is one branch each in Kathmandu, Nepal, Kolkata, India and Athens, Greece.
Address: Dashiqiaotou, Sifang Street, Old Town, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province
The wooden fish stone is a permanent mascot of the Naxi people of Lijiang, representing family harmony, peace, good fortune, health, and happiness. The shop's owner, Che Fumin, a member of the World Intangible Cultural Heritage, uses handmade craftsmanship that exudes exquisite refinement and delicacy.
Address: No. 8, Xingren Middle Section, Wuyi Street, Old Town District, Lijiang City
Contact: 13988876915
The window of the paper mill displays many note papers, notebooks, postcards, envelopes, bookmarks made of Dongba paper, as well as books printed with Dongba culture.
Address: No. 179, Cuiwen Section, Xinhua Street, Gucheng District, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province
The hand drums at Drum Friends World are all imported, from Thailand, Indonesia, and Africa. But even more captivating than the drums is the original Yin Fang. He's the forerunner of Lijiang's CD bars and drum shops. He's sold maps, set up street vendors, performed in bars, and opened a bar and restaurant. Ultimately, he found that only the flat drum could express his passion. Let him teach you some awesome hand drumming!
Address: No. 36, Xinyuan Lane, Guangyi Street, Gucheng District, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province
Contact: 15008795776
Bei Laoye's Tea Shop is the first boutique in Lijiang to promote the concept of tea etiquette. Specializing in Yunnan high mountain tea, Pu'er, Dianhong tea, scented tea, and a variety of teaware, Bei Laoye's teas are highly sought after for their high-quality teas and exquisite packaging. Bei Laoye already has two locations in the Old Town, with another located next to the Mufu Palace.
Address: Next to Dashiqiao, Wuyi Street, Gucheng District, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province Contact: 13308886266
This yak beef shop has several branches in Lijiang, offering a variety of flavors. The yak beef is vacuum-packed, making it ideal as souvenirs.
Address: No. 133, Sifang Street, Xinyi Street, Old Town District, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province
Contact: 0888-8885589